BillHR,
Let me be the first to respond to you comment about high horses. I am sure I speak for all my colleagues when I say that I take the utmost pride in my job. And when a production like this highlights certain facets that are simply inaccurate, then you have to expect an emotional response (egs, controller being escorted from the front gates at LTCC by police, no mention of TCAS, portrayal of lack of communication between Approach and Tower).
However, you flippant comment about "smug, self righteous attitude of those who my life depends" reeks. I know I'm not infalliable, I am after all human. However, this doesn't stop me from providing the best service I can. Further more, you state the aviation industry is not essential. Who has their head in the sand now? It is a WORLDWIDE system that millions of people daily use. Mass population = mass transit. Following this premise, there are many things in life that aren't essential, but have become part of daily living (TV, Playstation, Home PC, Boat, Cat, Mobile Phone). And yes, I realise that this is along the same lines as your comment about UK transport network at breaking point. BUT, what you "assume" is a self righteous attitude from the poor guy sitting infront of a radar screen, talking to another poor bloke with 200 passengers strapped to his back is a very uninformed, narrow point of view indeed. Come to a centre or a tower one day....
You say you enjoy avition....is this you means of making a living? If not, what is you means of making a quid? You state you are staggered by how quickly we "close ranks" when directed comments from outside. Perhaps productions like this prove that the somewhat uninformed will believe and communicate incorrect information, seeing it as fact. How often have I picked up papers and seen articles on aviation that are sensationalist garbage ("Seconds from tragedy....." or "Concorde looses tail"). And when friends or friends of friends see this, the resulting questions always make me smile.
You wonder why we react like this...........I think you have missed the point. The program does raise some issues that require looking at, however there are some issues highlighted that are false, and it is these that I have the problem with. And being referred to as smug and self righteous.
Last edited by Jerricho; 14th May 2003 at 23:10.